AH-1 Cobra

The AH-1 Cobra is an attack helicopter manufactured by Bell. It shares a common engine, transmission and rotor system with the older UH-1 Iroquois (nicknamed "Huey"). The AH-1 is also sometimes referred to as the "HueyCobra" or "Snake".

The AH-1 was once the backbone of the United States Army's attack helicopter fleet, but has been replaced by the AH-64 Apache in Army service. Upgraded versions continue to fly with several other users. The AH-1 twin engine versions remain in service with United States Marine Corps as the service's primary attack helicopter.

About the model

There wasn't a large scale model of the Cobra on the market so I decided to build my own. I looked through some library books to find a suitable 3-view drawing that I then blew up on a photocopier to a size that would take a 23cc petrol engine. I had been invited to go to a show in Long Island, New York and while there I was invited to visit a military base where I then took the necessary photos to get the scale details. The model took around 6 months to build.